Report: Tottenham Hotspur U23s 0 Rovers U23s 3

Rovers turn on the style to confidently brush aside Spurs and rise to ninth in Premier League 2

9 April 2019

In a real 'six-pointer' towards the bottom of the Premier League 2 table, it was Rovers Under-23s who came out on top with a comprehensive victory away at Tottenham Hotspur Under-23s.

The three goals came via a trio of different scorers, with Jack Vale, Dan Butterworth and the in form Joe Rankin-Costello all notching at Stevenage's Lamex Stadium.

The win hauls Rovers up to ninth in the table; three points clear of the relegation zone with only two games remaining in the top tier.

Rovers began the game well, and it was striker Vale who gave Damien Johnson's side the lead early on in Hertfordshire.

It took only three minutes for Johnson's youngsters to find the net, with an excellent cross from Stefan Mols finding Vale, whose downward header gave home stopper Brandon Austin no chance from six yards out.

The lead was doubled on 14 minutes from the spot, with Butterworth lashing home the penalty after he was taken down in the box by Harvey White.

Rovers were dominant, with Vale seeing two attempts denied by the goalkeeper and a block from White, before Butterworth looped an effort onto the bar before half time.

Rovers were just as resolute after the break, and after Troy Parrett headed Spurs' best chance of the game wide of target, it was left to Rankin-Costello to complete the rout.

The midfielder-turned-right-back, who scored twice in the recent Premier League Cup game at Stoke City, made it three goals in his last two outings after cutting in from the right and curling a sumptuous left-footed effort into the far corner with only seven minutes remaining.

The victory will give Rovers confidence ahead of their next game in Premier League 2, which will come from Ewood Park on Monday 15th April, kick-off 7pm.